C. Peter Wagner, founder of the New Apostolic Reformation and the Wagner Leadership Institute, has introduced a heresy to the church that is growing at an alarming rate. Whereas before, the proponents of the NAR were looked at as being on the fringe of Charismania, they have now swiftly gained inroads into churches, and even politics, and are now beginning to go mainstream. But, Wagner didn’t do this alone. Wagner had many self-serving false prophets and false apostles who were more than willing to help him spread this poison.

Wagner’s plan for the church can be summed up in two words… “Dominion Mandate.” In Wagner’s own words, this mandate consists of:

“My point is that we’re in the second apostolic age, and, and, the government of the church must be in place with apostles and prophets. Which brings us to the ‘Dominion Mandate.’ Now, first of all, I want to point out two words… dominion and mandate.”

These apostles and prophets are a group of men and women who form the elite inner circle of the NAR; the “super christians” who are so “holy,” they will one day achieve immortality.

Gaining immortality while in sinful flesh would be a magnificent feat, to say the least. But how do the NAR super apostles propose to do this? Well, if you look at it Scripturally, there is only one way. Only diety, angels, or demons, etc., are immortal. Since we know the NAR super apostles aren’t and never will be literal angels or demons, that leads to only one more possible way. They must be gods, or little gods. Sound familiar? The little god doctrine may not be affirmed publicly by all of the NAR (as of yet), but the concept and doctrine is there. It’s the same lie that goes all the way back to Eden when the serpent tempted Eve by saying:

Genesis 3:4-5:

4 And the serpent said to the woman, “You surely shall not die!
5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

The same lie that tempted man and effectively caused him to fall in the beginning still works today. The serpent is slick, sure, but this is still the same old lie he has always used. Why change your tactics when the old one still works so well?

So, how do you become an apostle or prophet in the NAR? You have to be confirmed as an apostle or prophet by…. the NAR’s apostles and prophets. Only they can recognize you as such. This elitism then divides the church into the “haves” and “have nots.” Those who have the power and those who don’t. The “have nots” in the church must submit to the authority of the “haves” – the elite ones, the super christians – the apostles and prophets.

The following quote from Wagner is taken from an article written by Mike Oppenheimer of Let Us Reason Ministries:

Wagner states, “The New Apostolic Reformation is an extraordinary work of God at the close of the twentieth century that is, to a significant extent, changing the shape of Protestant Christianity around the world,” Wagner explains. “For almost five hundred years, Christian churches have largely functioned within traditional denominational structures of one kind or another…

“The apostles bring spiritual government to the pastors of the city so that the pastors of the city can do the job that God has given them in a much more effective way. The only thing is that the pastors of the city have to recognize the existence of apostles and be willing to acknowledge their governmental role. This hasn’t happened too much yet.”

“The only way this can possibly play itself out would be by the other people in the city recognizing that the apostle will add value to their own ministry. If this does not happen, change will not occur,” explains Wagner.

“The whole idea of recognizing the gift and role of an apostle is a really big change in the way we see church. The one thing that has surprised me is the lack of opposition to this. I haven’t seen an awful lot of criticism or opposition to it as has developed over other issues.” (Arise Magazine Article: New Apostolic Reformation,Posted September 1, 2000) (Source)

Wagner hasn’t seen a lot of opposition to this? That’s because sheep are willingly being led to the slaughter.

Think of the implications of this. Those of you who read this blog know the importance the Scriptures place on discernment. What would it be like if the NAR took over the entire church at large? Suppose a false prophet or apostle gives a supposed word from God – the discerning church would have no choice but to reject it. However, there is no room for that in Wagner’s “Dominion Mandate,” because the church has to submit to the apostles and prophets without question. If that sounds like a cult, that’s because it is.

“The word mandate, you gotta understand, mandate means an authoritative order or command. It doesn’t mean a good idea, it doesn’t mean a suggestion; it means an authoritative order. Dominion has to do with control. Dominion has to do with rulership. Dominion has to do with authority and subduing, and it relates to society…..”

Now, what is all of this going to accomplish? According to the NAR, it is to bring about Christ’s second coming. According to latter rain theology, these super apostles and prophets will become immortal, will subdue the earth through the seven mountain mandate, or the seven spheres of influence, will conquer the enemies of God (anyone who opposes the NAR) through spiritual mapping/spiritual warfare, and will eventually take over the earth. Once the earth has been completely conquered, then Jesus can come. Until then, He is being held in Heaven. Once man perfects this world, Jesus can come and man will lay the earth at His feet. Take out your magic eraser and eradicate the book of Revelation, Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah… in fact, erase it all. You can’t hold to any of it anyway if you follow this doctrine.

This is a warning that I am giving more loudly and clearly than any I’ve ever given. Keep your eyes and ears open! This thing has not only gained traction, but is spreading like a cancer. Watch and pray, friends. It’s getting darker by the minute!

To hear C. Peter Wagner in his own words, please watch the video below.

Chrystal, I read your post today on Ana Mendez Ferrell (I loved the title), whom I had never heard of, and after watching the video, I was prompted to do a post about the New Age nature of the Charismatic Movement. The NAR is just another manifestation of the New Age.

New Agers tout a new birth and the perfection of man, and this teaching is the hallmark of Mystery Babylon. Freemasonry teaches the perfection of man through degrees of initiation. New Age Gnosticism teaches the perfection of man through knowledge and continuing revelation. Mormonism teaches the perfection of man through following the teachings of Joe Smith found in the D and C and of various “prophets.” And on and on it goes.

As you said, this teaching creates an attitude of elitism: the haves and the have nots, because they will make sure that the goal is not something that everyone could attain; if it were, there would be no point in it. This concept can be seen in every religion except Christianity; for only Jesus said the least would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

This is merely the fruition of God’s Word, for He said He would send a “strong delusion” to those who believe not. Why? “That they all may be damned, because they believed not the truth, but took pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Jesus said that he would separate the sheep from the goats. Movements such as this are designed to do just that. Only those who want to be deceived will be. Discernment is the fruit of faith and obedience.

Boy!!! The occult symbology of the advert for Wagner’s ministry and even in his words is frightening. Did you notice the three pyramids of Egypt with the Sun God Horus rising right behind them? And those seven mountains he speaks of are very much like the seven mountains on which the whore of Babylon sits. Man are we in the Last Days or what?

To see that Peter Wagner is truly a false “apostle”, compare his teachings with the scriptures.

At 1:42 in that video, Peter Wagner refers to the “Government of The Church”. However, this is what the scripture says and it’s in stark contrast to what’s being taught by the NAR (epmphasis mine):

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this”.
Isaiah 9:6 & 7 KJV

There is no mention anywhere in the New Testament of a so-called “church government” as taught by the NAR and Peter Wagner. At 11:04 he also makes this strange claim that “the year 2001 began the second “apopstolic age”…the government of the church is now in place…” What “government” is he referring to, and what is the significance of the year 2001? Perhaps he and all the rest of the NAR are all followers of Stanley Kubrick or Arthur C Clark as in “2001: A Space Odyssey”. BTW, the actual book was originally called “The Lost Worlds of 2001″.

At 2:28 Peter Wagner not only takes the verse form Revelation 1:6 out of context, but he also changes the Word of God and twists the scriptures by saying “…and check the rest of that verse…it’s for a dominion”. The scriptures don’t say that at all. This is what the Word of God truthfully says (emphasis mine):

“And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen”

What we see here is the same old tactics as used by the serpent in the Garden of Eden when he spoke to Eve:

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.” Genesis 3:1 – 3 KJV

Here the first thing the Devil does is put doubt into the mind of Eve regarding the simple commandment of the LORD:

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:16 & 17 KJV

Eve first added to the commandment of the LORD with the words “neither shall ye touch it” and then minimized the consequences, judgement and punishment from the LORD by saying “lest ye die” when He clearly and emphatically pronounced “for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

This is the perfect example of what this false and self proclaimed “apostle” Peter Wagner is doing and teaching, as he is in reality a servent of the same serpent, the devil. He is deliberately twisting the Word of God in order to gain control of this planet and its wealth and resources, all supposedly “in the name of God”.

Now, at 11:04 seconds during the “ordination” of Todd Bentley, Peter Wagner again deliberately corrupts the Word of God when quoting Ephesians 4:11 & 12 by saying “…and He Himself…that is Jesus at His ascension…He gave some to the apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers…”

That’s nothing like what the Word of God says, or actually teaches regarding the five-fold ministry in the Church. Firstly, he told an outright lie, as the scripture he is quoting was NOT from Jesus at his ascension, but written by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church at Ephasus. This is what the scripture really says:

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:11 & 12 KJV

The teachings of Peter Wagner above are in fulkfilment of this teaching and dire warning from Jesus
Himself, which Peter Wagner obviously is oblivious to:

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Revelation 22:18 & 19

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My foot. There never was any “age”. Men just departed from the Word of God and then looked back and called the first century “the Apostolic age” to try and excuse and justify their disobedience, as most of christendom continues to do.

I can’t see ANY similarity between the original Apostles and these self-proclaimed ones. Nor any similarity between the churches they planted. Polar opposites in character and nature.

if any of these modern apostles could go back to the first century they would be thrown out on their ear as a joke.

But most other movements don’t get a pass, either. They wouldn’t fare much better if they were transported back to meet the original Apostles.

NOTHING has changed in the sight of God concerning His church, it’s government, life and function, and it is unbelievable that people would think otherwise, like God changed His mind.

I got tired of being a “second rate” Christian in the leadership’s eyes, the endless prophecies of power and prosperity (for those in leadership), the false doctrines…I could go on and on. The thing is that I never thought that the “church” would welcome the anti-Christ and persecute the true believers.

Hello Chrystal-I hope that you are enjoying a good day. Doesn’t it seem that the devil just keeps generating heresies, then watching to see which ones pick up traction? I think it was Montaigne who said, “Foolish man! He cannot make an earthworm, yet he creates gods by the dozens!”
When this Wagner dies, will his lack of immortality in this sinful body be considered evidence that he was wrong? By those whom God has given discernment, yes. To his followers…i doubt it. They’ll simply discover a new revelation, or some golden plates with magical glasses, or will ‘clarify’ the Word, or…

Chrystal, I must thank you for this post and the post on Ana Mendez Ferrell. The videos allowed me to make some very important connections. Thank you for taking the time to do this research.
Yours is a very valuable ministry.

The religious experiences that are ascribed to and promoted in the church are not supported by or evidenced in the Scriptures. I call them religious experiences because they are not spiritual experiences of the Christian. They are a quasi-self-centered euphoric fuzzy feeling imagination.

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2: 9-12

Oh Chrystal! There is so much to comment on with this post it’s almost overwhelming. So, a little history for some…One fore runner to the NAR was a movement in the 70-80’s referred to as the Shepherding Movement – the leadership consisted of five men: Mumford, Prince, Basham, Simpson & Baxter. It was very destructive and my marriage became a casualty due to my (unwitting) involvement in this movement. (Yes, it is a true and painfully long story). However, God, who is truly Almighty, restored both my marriage and the shattered pieces of my faith – and I am grateful. I remain quite wary of these NAR folks. It has (NAR) become so prevalent now that people have no clue as to what is really going on behind the scenes and how dangerous this will become to true believers. I will comment on one word in the video that was not intended to seem prophetic. Dutch Sheets made the statement “you have no idea what God is about to unleash on this nation”. True, and neither does he. As the darkness proceeds to deep darkness – watch what happens to the true light of God! It will only become brighter and brighter. May God bless and protect those who earnestly search out the truth, and decide to walk in it.

News flash for them,God has his own mandate and always will and it doesn’t include what they are selling.They are fighting against God and don’t even know it,so much for their prophets and prophetic gifting,that proves they are not prophets of God for if they were and they truly heard the voice of God they would know they are in error and teaching hersey and doctrines of demons.They are leading multitudes astray,we were once there among that crowd,it is sad to see that it has plunged further into deception and that they still have a huge trail of prisoners following them.Woe unto those people who say they speak on the Lord’s behalf,but I did not send them.

The scriptures have this to say regarding the NAR/WOF/IHOP movements and their numerous false “apostles” like Peter Wagner andDutch Sheets. The scriptures also carry a warning about becoming bitter and hard of heart in opposing those liars. Vverse seven reminds us all of what the Lord God has for us at the end and gives us comfort and encouragement:

“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:1 – 7 KJV

Chrystal…good post. This excerpt sent shivers down my spine because it is so true:
“These apostles and prophets are a group of men and women who form the elite inner circle of the NAR; the “super christians” who are so “holy,” they will one day achieve immortality.”

That is delusion that caused Satan’s fall…pride. When we look at our own struggles to be better people or to achieve perfection it sets us up to exalt men…and here they are…all ready and willing to be exalted. Ah the progression of pride.

Which brings us back to the reason for Christianity. Christ…the only exalted One. Praise Him!!

Did you notice in that video how Peter Wagner was using beconing motions to literally get the crowd to worship and praisehim? There’s only one spirit that seeks after that kind of attention, and it’s not the Holy Spirit:

“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:8 & 9 KJV

Hi just getting on my to my email list….happy to hear this Dominion and NAR is coming to us who
believe what the Bible Teaches and tells us especially “beware of false prophets….” we are warned and now it is time that those who are apostate teachers/leaders should be named for the
sake of the church that may be still asleep.
A sermon on ” Should We Name Apostates? Youi Betcha!”. Good job and we should all keep praying and praising God for His Word which is Truth!!
We are so desparte for Him, and many do not even know how deparate we are for Him! He desires us to be so in love with HIm for He purchased us with His blood to be His Own!!
Draw us Lord! fran

The problem is people love being deceived. They love to have itching ears and stupid false prophecies! They really don’t want to know the truth or to do God’s will. So they flock to idiots like Peter Wagner, Bill Johnson, Pat King or John Arnott

Dutch Sheets must have had a new idea about that apostleship, because he beat it out of there, leaving his church for new digs in Alabama, where I read he declared would be the next move of (his) god. hmmm….wonder when that one will take place or if it has been cancelled like Wilderness Outcry.

ya know i disagree with just about everything the NAR’s theology is founded on, but the way this video is cropped discounts the entire video. it gives the appearance that you are taking statements out of context therefore throwing out the credibility of whoever is using the video to incriminate the NAR. this video comes off as bias instead of objective.

This idiot says Dominion, as he references Rev 1:6, (about 2:20) has to do with ruler-ship, authority. The word, “dominion” in this passage is referring to might, strength and it is referring to a characteristic of God. This guy really needs our prayers.

I just want to apologize to the body of Christ here. I made a mistake in naming Wagner as an “idiot”. Regardless of his theology and ideology, I was convicted that calling him an idiot was inappropriate. He is a man, made in the image of God, and the breath of God was given to him. By God’s grace alone, the man continues to breathe. I was compelled by the Holy Spirit to apologize and give Glory to God for His check in my spirit. I’m so grateful to sites like this that help us discern; but in all honesty, we lose credibility when we start calling names. Please, forgive me for that outburst? It was really in the flesh…

Chrystal, this is an excellent article. We’re educating folks in NE Wisconsin about NAR–most people in our neck of the woods aren’t familiar with it. I’ve shared your article and blog site on our site (http://bit.ly/ucJT99), and am encouraging our listeners to add you to their watchman resource lists.
Amy

I am from West Virginia but now live in Wisconsin. I live is Lacrosse Co. How far am I from you?

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Hebrews 1:1-2

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.